Train-pipe coupling



J. E. FORSYTH.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION man JUNE 2\,192o.

Patented June 14, 1921..

/NVENTOR Arr'ns j ao UNITED STATES JOSEPH E. FOBSYTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE."

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

To @all fw 720m t concern Be itknown thatl I, JosnrH E. FoRsYTH, a citizen of the United States, lresiding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the followingis a speciiication.

This invention relates particularly to automatic train-pipe couplings of the general characterset forth in Letters Patent of the United States No. 848,840, grantedMarch 12, 1907, to Joseph E. Forsyth.

For passengerservice, it is usual to employ a coupling head which is supported from the draw-barl of the car in the manner illustrated, for example, in Forsyth United States Patent No. 846,841, granted March l2, 1907; and it is usual to connect the signal-pipe, the brakepipe, and the Asteam-pipe ofthe car with corresponding passages or conduits with which the coupling head is provided, said conduits being equipped at theirl orifices with suitable gaskets.

The primary object of the-present invention is to provide means, whereby the brakepipe, for example, of one car, may be placed in communication with the signal-pipe, for example, of another car, so `that the signalpipe may be utilized for 'conducting airpressure for braking purposes to the cars in the rear of a disabled car. It may be explained that it sometimes happens that the brake-pipe, or the connections of the brake-pipe ot a car, become injured; and the present invention contemplates the employment, at each end of ysuch a car, of a plate adapted to be interposed between the train-pipe coupling heads at each end of such a car, such plate being provided with means for closing the brake-pipe atV each end of the defective car and connecting the brake-pipes of the adjoining cars with the signal-pipe of the carwhich carries the defective brake-pipe, thus` shunting the air for braking purposes through the signalpipe.V `In this manner, the effective operation of the brakes can be maintained upon all of the cars. of'the train, except the car which has the defective brake-pipe.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l represents a vertical sectional view of a pair of train-pipe coupling heads of an automatic train-pipe coupling and an Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jun@ 14, 1921 Application filed .Tune 21, 19,20. Serial No; 390,574. i i I interposed plate provided'with means for defective; B represents a train-pipe coupling head of an adjoining car; and C represents a shunting plate employed. The coupling head A is provided with a pair of guide prongs A (one shown) and the coupling head Bis provided with a pair of guide prongs B (one shown). The guide prongs of the two coupling heads are adapt ed to interlock in the usual manner to V'prevent rotation of the coupling heads with relation to each other. The coupling heads aresupported by stems land backed Aby springs 2, in a well-known manner. Each coupling head is providedwith a signal passage 3, a brake passage 4 anda steam pas'- sage 5. With these passages communicate the train pipes, that is, the signal-pipe'l,

the brake pipe 4a, and the steam pipe 5a. At

the orifices of the passages are usual gaskets 3b, 4b and 5b.

The shunting plate C comprises a -flat plate of the same contour as thei'aces of the coupling heads, and` thus adapted to be embraced by the guide prongs of the coupling heads when the coupling heads come together. The plate C is provided with a passage or conduit 6 which hasA a central orifice 6a at one side of the plate, and an eccentric orifice 6b at the other side of the plate. Opposite the oriiice 6a, the plateis provided with a central projection, or boss,

which is adapted tov iit into the central gasket 4b of the corresponding coupling head; and opposite the orifice 6", the plate is provided with a boss, or plug, V7a which is adapted to fit into 'the gasket 3b of the other coupling'head. Thus, it will be seen that by this means the brake-pipe of one car is stopped up, while the signal-pipe of the other car is stopped up; and` that the signalpipe of one car is placed lin communication with the brake-pipe of theother car.

This arrangement enables the air to be shunted from the brake-pipe'oi" one car to provided the Vthe signal-pipe of the other car in the manner indicated by the arrow. At the opposite end of the car having the defective brakepipe, another shunting plate of the same kind is employed, but turned side for side,

so that at that point the air will be shunted luntil such time as it is feasible to set the Acar out for repairs. The -continuity of the signal-pipe,` for signal purposes', will, of course, be interrupted; but the signals can be operated from any car in front of the car havingthe defective brake-pipe. It may be stated, that oncethe coupling heads are together With the shunting plate interposed, the plugs 7 and 7a of the plate are no longerV really needed to close the train-pipes which are, for the time being, 'thrown out of'use, as this might be accomplished by the gaskets pressing against the sides of the'plate. 'However, it is preferred to employ the plugs onthe plate, as this affords a ready means vof attaching the plate to one `of the' coupling heads preparatory to bringing the cars together. That is, when oneof the plugs is inserted in a gasket, the plate will be frictionally held in position and Will not drop'off during the coupling of the Vcars. Rotation of4 the plate about the aXis'of the plug Will not occur, for the reason that `thejedges of the plate conform to the concave surfaces of the baseV portions of the guide prongs or horns of the coupling head. V

yThe foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Vl. rIhe combination with a pair of trainpipe coupling heads provided With a plurality of passages adapted to register in pairs, of an interposed plate provided with a conduit through which a passage of one coupling'head communicates with a non-registering passage of the other coupling head.

2. The combination With a pair of trainpipecoupling heads' provided With .a pluq rality of passages having gasket-equipped orifices, Fof an interposed plate having a 'shunting vpassageprovided aty opposite sides of the plate with orifices Which register with said first-namedorifices and thus serve to i Aconnect a given train-pipe of one car With another kind of train-pipe of another car.

3. The combination with a pair of trainpipe coupling heads provided With guideprongs and With a plurality of passages having gasket-equipped orifices, of an interposed plate having a shunting passage provided at opposite sides of the plate With orifices Which register With the gasketequipped orifices in such manner as to shunt the pressure 'from a given train-pipe of one car to a different train-pipe of another car, said plate being equipped with a boss adapted to engage one of the coupling-head gaskets to retain the plate in position during the coupling of the cars.

4f. In means of the character set forth,the combination of a pair of coupling heads Vprovided v'vith guide prongs and With signal passages and brake passages having orifices equipped with gaskets, and an interposed shunting plate provided with a shunting conduit and provided on Vopposite sides With plug'portions, one of Which is adapted to close the orificev of a signal-pipe and the other of which is adapted to close the orifice of a brake pipe.

combination, of a coupling head provided with guide prongs andequipped With passages for communication With corresponding train-pipes, said passages having orifices equipped With gaskets, anda shunting plate having itsy edge portions embraced by .the base portions of said guide prongs,said shunting plate being provided with a shunting conduit having orifices in alinement with the passages ofxsaid gaskets and hav'- "ing aV plug opposite one of the orifices of the plate adapted to enter a gasket.

6. A device yof the character and for the purpose set forth, eomprisinga plate provided With a shunting passage having orifices at opposite sides of the plate Which are out of alinement with each other, said plate having anedge portion adapted to be embraced bythe guide prongs of a coupling head., p

7. A device of the character and for the purpose set forth, comprising a plate provided ivith a shuntingpassage having orifices at opposite sides of the plate which are out of alinement with each other, said plate having an edge portion adapted to be embraced by the guide prongsof a coupling Josnrn n. roRsYrH.`

5. In means of the character set forth, the 

